WENHAM — As Gordon College has grown over the last 35 years, so has its reputation as a highly ranked Christian college that boasts new facilities and comprehensive programs.
Those who have worked with college President R. Judson Carlberg credit his vision and leadership with planting the seeds for that success.
Carlberg recently announced he will retire at the end of June, following a 19-year tenure as college president.
"It's a wonderful staff and administration," Carlberg said. "In a college setting, you're working with educated, smart, challenging people; it's a great environment."
Carlberg arrived at the Wenham campus in 1976 as dean of faculty and served as senior vice president for development for two years before becoming college president in 1992. During his career at Gordon, the college has doubled its student body and greatly expanded the academic programs.
"He's built trust and he assembled a really excellent faculty," said Bruce Herman, the Lothlórien Distinguished Chair in Fine Arts at Gordon College. "Everyone loves him."
Carlberg's towering stature and dignified demeanor belie a down-to-earth leader whom faculty and staff comfortably address as "Jud" (not Mr. Carlberg or Dr. Carlberg). He seeks input on decisions and is an intent listener, according to Herman, who Carlberg hired nearly 30 years ago.
"He doesn't micromanage," Herman said. "He's so effective with faculty because he respects professional boundaries and academic boundaries. ... He's a consensus builder and he listens to people."
Carlberg and his wife, Jan, are mainstays on the Gordon College campus, whether they are attending student performances or athletic contests. Jan Carlberg is an accomplished storyteller who tells a tale at the college Christmas gala each year, and every semester the couple host the so-called Coffee With the Carlbergs at their home on campus.
"They invite about 30 students into their home for coffee," said senior Jesse Adams, who is student-body president. "It's an opportunity to hang out in their home, and it's a really neat time. It's a popular thing on campus to get to spend time with him and his wife."
Beyond his relationship with faculty and students, Carlberg has been a champion for the college as he helped raise millions of dollars for new technology and facilities over the last two decades, including a new science building, a performing arts center, four new residence halls, a sports complex and major renovations to existing campus buildings.
"He took Gordon into a different era, really," said Bonnie Loring, a longtime member of the college's Board of Trustees. "He's been able to keep an outstanding faculty and maintain the academic quality, however, he's also built the campus. Really the weak element of the college was the lack of good facilities that would be comparable to other colleges recruiting students."
Growth and leadership
When Carlberg arrived at Gordon College in the 1970s, there were roughly 930 students and approximately 17 liberal-arts majors such as history, education, chemistry, biology and physics.
During his tenure, the college has more than doubled its offerings, adding a fine arts department, communications, accounting, kinesiology, expanded science offerings, to name a few — now offering a total of 37 majors and 29 concentrations.
Today, Gordon enrolls approximately 1,850 students and boasts a host of international study programs, as well as community service initiatives.
"I saw the possibility and promise of a greater educational experience," Carlberg said of his efforts to launch global education programs, as well as work-study.
"It's a great challenge to work with students and not only to educate them, but to prepare them for life beyond the classroom."
Gordon is ranked among the nation's top Christian colleges, according to school officials, and it was recently recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the top schools in the country for its students' academic and postgraduate success.
Carlberg said it's hard work to stay competitive.
"You can't provide the education you are expected to provide today in buildings that are dilapidated or don't have the latest equipment," Carlberg said. "We spend millions of dollars just to be state-of-the-art with computers, and it's a challenge to keep up."
Carlberg is also credited with hiring other qualified leaders and faculty.
"He is just an unusually strong leader," Loring said. "He's written many articles on leadership. It's something both in his character and a real skill."
Carlberg serves on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and is involved with the Council of Independent Colleges.
"I'm active at that level," Carlberg said, "and while I've been at Gordon the academic standards have gone up and up and up. It's an excellent education with a Christian-values base."
Carlberg, who turns 70 this fall, said he and his wife enjoy academic life. The couple, who have been married 47 years, live in the president's house on campus, which also serves as a guest house when speakers visit campus.
Carlberg said he considered retirement a few years ago but held off due to the economic recession.
"Now that the college is on better footing, and I've built up the board to 28 trustees, all these things have come together," Carlberg said.
The Carlbergs have two grown children, Chad and Heather, and four grandchildren with a fifth grandchild on the way. In addition to spending more time with family after his retirement, the couple are interested in building colleges and universities overseas.
"The next phase is a blank page," Carlberg said. "We'll see what gets written."
Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at amcgregor@salemnews.com.
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